Allowed vs Evil was allowed to endure vs Permitted

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Allowed

Top 2,000 (common)

Evil was allowed to endure

Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Permitted

Top 3,000 (common)
Most common: Allowed
 AllowedEvil was allowed to endurePermitted
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //əˈlaʊd//🇺🇸 //əˈlaʊd//🇬🇧 //ˈiːvəl wəz əˈlaʊd tuː ɪnˈdjuːə//🇺🇸 //ˈivəl wəz əˈlaʊd tu ˈɪnˌdʊr//🇬🇧 //pəˈmɪtɪd//🇺🇸 //pəˈmɪtɪd//
MeaningIt means something is okay or permitted.Something bad was permitted to last.Allowed or given permission to do something.
ExampleStudents are allowed to use calculators during the exam.In the story, evil was allowed to endure despite the hero's efforts.Only employees are permitted to enter the restricted area.
RegisterNeutralNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Beyond 10,000 (less common)Top 3,000 (common)
Collocationsallowed to enter, not allowed, allowed to play, legally allowed, always allowedallowed to continue, evil persists, endure suffering, tolerate wrongdoing, dark forces thrivebe permitted to do something, not permitted, only permitted, permitted by law, permitted activities
Antonymsprohibited, forbidden-prohibited, forbidden, restricted
Common mistakesConfusing 'allowed' with 'aloud' (which means spoken out loud)., Using 'allowed' without the preposition 'to' when indicating permission (e.g., 'I am allowed go' instead of 'I am allowed to go')., Incorrectly using 'allowed' for abilities instead of permissions (e.g., 'He is allowed play soccer' instead of 'He is allowed to play soccer').Confused with 'endure' vs 'withstand', Overuse in casual speech, Omitting context makes it unclearConfusing with 'allowed' as they are similar but 'permitted' is more formal., Using 'permitted' in informal contexts where 'allowed' is more appropriate., Incorrectly conjugating it as 'permit' instead of 'permitted' in past contexts.
Usage notesUsed in contexts where permission is given. It's neutral, so it can be used in formal or informal situations, but be cautious in legal contexts.Used often in literary or dramatic contexts to imply a tolerance of wrongdoing or suffering. Less common in everyday conversation.Use 'permitted' in formal contexts, such as legal or official discussions. Avoid using it in casual conversation.

See it in real clips

Allowed
Evil was allowed to endure
Permitted

Frequently asked questions: Allowed vs Evil was allowed to endure vs Permitted

What's the difference between Allowed, Evil was allowed to endure, and Permitted?

Allowed: It means something is okay or permitted. Evil was allowed to endure: Something bad was permitted to last. Permitted: Allowed or given permission to do something.

Which is more common: Allowed, Evil was allowed to endure, and Permitted?

Allowed is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Allowed: Students are allowed to use calculators during the exam. Evil was allowed to endure: In the story, evil was allowed to endure despite the hero's efforts. Permitted: Only employees are permitted to enter the restricted area.

Can I use Allowed, Evil was allowed to endure, and Permitted interchangeably?

Not always. Allowed, Evil was allowed to endure, and Permitted are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.